HEAVEN
(A Message to the Multitude)
(Preached Sunday Afternoon October 4, 2020)
“For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God.”
(Ephesians 2:18-19)
Introduction
Wanna hear a joke; have a little haha: laugh a little?
“An old lady was on a flight. She was sitting beside a young businessman. After the in-flight meal she took out her Holy Bible and started her devotion. The businessman glanced at her and said, ‘Do you really believe that all that stuff in the Bible is true?’
“Well, yes, as a matter of fact I do,’ said the old lady.”
“Yeah, right…’ the man scoffed, ‘like… what’s that guy’s name, the one who got swallowed by a whale..?”
“You mean Jonah?”
“Yeah, Jonah, I mean, how do you actually survive for 3 days in a fish’s belly?”
“I don’t know,’ replied the old lady, ‘but I can ask him when I see him in heaven someday.”
“Feeling smart, the young man said: ‘Ok, but what if he’s not in heaven because he went to hell?”
“Then young man, you can ask him’ replied the old lady calmly.” [source]
Well, folks, there’s your joke, and in it, there’s a lady who believes the Bible. Someone who also therefore believes that Hell is a real place where real people go. Someone who also believes the same thing about Heaven.
Are you going to Heaven? I know that you’re going to be in your home tonight, wherever that may be. But will you likewise be going home, one day, to Heaven or to Hell?
Perhaps you are saying, “Neither one. I’ll be right here!” Okay. For how long? How long will you be here? Let’s suppose that eternity is real. (It is, you know.) Let’s suppose that you live as long as that something inside of you is telling you that you should. Let’s suppose that you do live forever, as the Bible says you will.
Will the Earth that you live on be able to sustain you? Will it be able to sustain human life? In fact (here’s another question), will it even be the same Earth?
Scientists, circumstances, and common sense all tell us, “No!” They tell us that the answer to all three questions is a definite negative.
“It will not!”
“The Earth that you know will not be able to sustain human life.”
“The Earth that you know will not be able to sustain you.”
“The Earth that you know will not be here.”
Funny? Is it? Everything and everyone, who tells the truth here, now, at the end of it all… All agree with the Bible. Why? Because the time has come. The end approaches. We have walked out far enough, and now… the cliff can now be seen.
That’s it. So… where will you go? There is no Earth for you. It is gone. Hell? It is real but… you don’t want to go there. So, what is left?
Heaven. You want to go there? Do you want to go to Heaven? Then you must be responsible. You must seek a relocation plan, if there is one available. You must carefully plan your trip and ensure that you will be ready to go. In fact, first, you must make sure that you can get in – to that country.
Can you? Can you get in? No, no, no you can not. There are three considerations: three facts regarding your inability to make this trip; to make this place your new home.
Is there a fourth to consider; one that may provide the necessary exception that you so desperately need to succeed in this desperately needed travel plan? Let us hope. Let us look. Let us see the first of three, and let us hope there be – more.
I. Heaven is far away, so you can’t go there!
“The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord’s throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.” (Psalm 11:4)
A. Heaven is far!
“For thou, Lord, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.” (Psalm 97:9)
B. Heaven is far away!
“Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.” (Job 11:7-9)
C. You can’t go there!
“Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?” (Proverbs 30:4)
II. Heaven is God’s home, so you can’t be there!
“But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:” (Matthew 5:34)
A. Heaven is God’s!
“Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.” (Job 41:11)
B. Heaven is God’s home!
“Then hear thou their prayer and their supplication in heaven thy dwelling place, and maintain their cause.” (1 Kings 8:49)
C. You can’t be there!
“And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” (Isaiah 6:3-5)
III. Heaven is coming to Earth, so you can’t stay here!
“They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11:9)
A. Heaven is coming!
“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.” (Revelation 21:1)
B. Heaven is coming to Earth!
“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” (Revelation 21:2)
C. You can’t stay here!
“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” (Revelation 21:3)
“But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Revelation 21:27, ESV)
Conclusion
Oh, what a place that will be!
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)
“He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it.” (Isaiah 25:8)
“And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” (Isaiah 25:9)
You’ve got one way in: one chance, one way, now!
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)
“For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” (Ephesians 2:18)
Come and go! Come and be a “fellowcitizen.” Come and be “with the saints.” Come and be “of the household of God!”
“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God.” (Ephesians 2:18-19)
OUTLINE:
Heaven
“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God.” (Ephesians 2:18-19)
I. Heaven is far away, so you can’t go there?
II. Heaven is God’s home, so you can’t be there!
III. Heaven is coming to Earth, so you can’t stay here!
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)
WORSHIP:
Alan Jackson – Are You Washed In The Blood / I’ll Fly Away
Opening:
Message:
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A 10 year-old autistic and blind boy singing. His voice shocked everyone.
Owen Mac If Jesus Comes Tomorrow
On the Road to Damascus with Lyrics
This Evening’s Featured Film: